USA Faces Brazil for Third Place at 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship

NewsSep 2, 2006

Saturday, Sept. 2, 2006 U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team Notes from Moscow, Russia

USA TO FACE BRAZIL FOR THIRD PLACE AT 2006 FIFA U-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: After a crushing loss to China in the semifinal match, a game that all the media, FIFA staff, fans and perhaps even China, would admit that the USA should have won, the Americans will try to re-group to face Brazil for third place in the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship. The game kicks off at Lokomovtiv Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 3, at 4 p.m. local / 8 a.m. ET. Fans can follow the action live on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker. The all-Asian U-20 World Championship Final between North Korea and China kicks off at 7 p.m. local / 11 a.m. ET. This will be the third straight third-place match for Brazil at the FIFA women’s youth world championship.

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Both teams are coming off disappointing semifinal losses, as if there’s any other kind, but both of Brazil’s knockout games were packed with drama. After winning Group A on goal difference despite scoring just two goals in the first round play (and playing two scoreless draws), Brazil won its quarterfinal - a match the pundits said should have been won by Nigeria - with a 96th minute goal for the 2-1 victory. Brazil’s loss to North Korea in the semifinal was also decided late, as the Koreans got their lone goal less than three minutes from the end of the game. With U.S. head coach Tim Schulz rotating players during the tournament, the United States struggled to find consistency in its first three matches, but still controlled every game. The 4-1 win over Germany in the quarterfinals saw the USA at its best and the Americans out-shot China 23-5 in the semifinal before falling in penalty kicks.

USA-BRAZIL PREVIEW: These two teams met twice earlier this year before the World Championship when the USA took a trip to Brazil, playing the U-20 teams from Canada and Brazil twice each in Teresopolis, Brazil, at the Ricardo Teixeira Cup played at the Brazilian National Team Training Center. The USA won the first match against Brazil on April 19, 2-0, as Lauren Cheney and Danesha Adams tallied, but then lost the rematch 2-1 on April 24. Jordan Angeli scored the lone goal for the USA in a game that saw goalkeeper Val Henderson red-carded and the Brazilians get the game winner just a few minutes later. Amazingly, Brazil has scored a very un-Brazilian four goals in this tournament and their attack should struggle against a U.S. defense that has allowed only three goals in five matches. Brazil would no doubt have been more offensively potent had superstar Marta been available, but a mix-up between the Brazilian Federation and her Swedish club Umea, kept the two-time FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year runner-up out of the competition. In the absence of Marta, Brazil’s top attacking player is forward Fabiana, who has two of her team’s four goals, but center midfielder Renata Costa, a member of Brazil 2004 Olympic Team, is probably the best player, holding down the midfield defensively while helping start Brazil’s attacks. On the flip side, Brazil has allowed only two goals in the tournament, a remarkably stingy average for a team whose defense usually falls way behind its attack. But Brazil has something they don’t normally have on the women’s side – a solid goalkeeper – as Barbara has done well in the nets so far. She should, however, get a stiff test against a U.S. team looking to take out some frustration. Brazil’s back line, not the speediest in the tournament, should also be stretched as U.S. head coach Tim Schulz will likely deploy his thoroughbreds up top and on the flanks. Swede Jenny Palmqvist will be the referee for the match.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• The USA’s 0-0 draw with China in the semifinal put an end to the American’s run of 16 consecutive matches scoring in the FIFA youth women’s world championship. Until the scoreless 120 minutes against the Chinese, the USA had scored in every final competition match since 2002 • It also marked the USA’s first-ever draw in a FIFA youth women’s world championship match • Brazil and USA are the only teams to have played 18 matches in FIFA youth women’s final competitions since the tournament’s inauguration as the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in 2002 • Brazil has lost all three FIFA youth world championship semifinals they have contested to date: to Canada in penalty kicks in 2002, 2-0 to China in 2004 and this year’s 1-0 defeat to North Korea • Brazil also lost in both previous third-place matches: to Germany in penalty kicks in 2002 and 3-0 to USA in 2004 • Of a total 10 FIFA women’s final competitions contested, this is only the fourth time that the USA has not qualified for the Final. The U.S. women’s team have appeared in six finals to date, winning five. The USA’s one defeat in a Final was against eventual gold medallists Norway in overtime at Sydney 2000

BACK TO SCHOOL: All of the U.S. players will jump right into their college seasons next weekend after returning from Russia, no doubt giving much needed boosts to their college sides. Amanda Poach and Jordan Angeli will join their Santa Clara Broncos for matches in Los Angeles at the UCLA Classic against Connecticut and Texas A&M. The five UCLA players on the U.S. roster – Val Henderson, Danesha Adams, Lauren Cheney, Erin Hardy and Tina DiMartino – will radically change the Bruins lineup as they return for matches against Texas A&M and UConn as well. Kelley O’Hara will have to travel back to the East Coast to play her first college games for Stanford against Rutgers and Long Island University in Piscataway, N.J., while Tobin Heath and Casey Nogueira will make their much-awaited college debuts for the UNC Tar Heels against Washington and Portland at the Nike Portland Invitational. Nikki Krzysik and Jessica Rostedt return to Virginia for the Cavaliers’ home matches against Georgia and Seton Hall while Amy Rodriguez will play for USC in Lincoln, Neb., against Drake and North Texas. Brittany Bock and Carrie Dew will travel to Texas to play for Notre Dame against Texas Christian and SMU while team captain Stephanie Lopez will line up for the struggling Portland Pilots against Baylor and UNC. Stephanie Logterman returns to Texas where the Longhorns will take on New Mexico and Rice on the road while Allie Long heads to Penn State for a pair of home games against West Virginia and Bucknell. Sarah Wagenfuhr returns to Florida State for a big match at home against Florida. Joanna Haig will play her first matches for Louisville (after transferring from Iowa State) at home against Xavier and Cincinnati. The only U.S. player who won’t be playing games is Kelsey Davis, who is red-shirting this season at Portland after transferring from UCLA.

SEE YOU IN TWO YEARS?: Just three players on the U.S. team are eligible for the next FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship to be held in 2008. Kelley O’Hara and Tobin Heath, both born in 1988, and Casey Nogueira, born in 1989, will all be eligible for that tournament, a host for which has not yet been decided. For the other 18 players, this will be their final youth world championship, and now they will look to try to make the U.S. U-21s, as well as the senior team for future Women’s World Cups and Olympic Games.

all_access video – POST-CHINA REACTION: ussoccer.com wraps up Russia ’06 with the U.S. team’s reaction to the heartbreaking loss to China and how they are looking to rebound against Brazil in the third-place match.

USSOCCER.COM'S U-20 WNT BLOG ANSWERS ALL THE QUESTIONS: There were many tears shed after the loss to China, but frowns must be turned upside down in life, and the U.S. team started that process the day after the match with a shopping trip to Arbot Street. ussoccer.com keeps you up to date from inside the U-20 WNT with the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship blog. Check back for some final entries as the USA finishes the tournament against Brazil in the match for third-place on Sunday, Sept. 3

Stat of Note:This is the 10th FIFA world championship for women. The U.S. Women’s National Team has finished in the top three in the previous nine tournaments.

1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup: First 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Third 1996 Olympics: First 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup: First 2000 Olympics: Second 2002 FIFA U-19 WWC: First 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Third 2004 Olympics First 2004 FIFA U-19 WWC: Third

Quote of the DayEighteen-year-old Kelley O’Hara on her experience with the U.S. U-20s:

“As one of the younger players on the team, I started this journey not knowing what to expect. I’ve learned so much about soccer, but the best part was getting to know all these people and having all these wonderful experiences all over the world. I know I’ve made friends for life that will last long after I stop playing soccer, and even though we lost here, I will look back at this time with some great memories.”